JFK’s Terminal 7 computer glitch delays passengers

Kennedy Airport, in an undated photo. In a statement, British Airways apologized to passengers for any inconvenience and said it worked hard to assist customers during a computer outage on Sunday, May 29, 2016, and to ensure that all flights departed. Photo Credit: Getty Images / AFP / Trevor Collens

A computer system breakdown at JFK’s Terminal 7 has led to flight delays and a backlog of thousands of passengers waiting to be checked into their flights manually, Port Authority officials said.

The issue, which began at about 4 p.m. this afternoon, has forced airlines to scrap their standard check-in procedures and instead handwrite boarding passes, Port Authority spokesperson Neil Buccino said

The computer shutdown is only affecting Terminal 7, which is operated by British Airways, though the airline leases space to other carriers, including Iberia, Qantas, and Cathay Pacific.

British Airways has been fielding passenger complaints of chaotic lines and long waits on Twitter, responding that “the delay was out of our control.”

Other terminals at JFK, which has six, have been asked to accept inbound flights originally scheduled to arrive at Terminal 7, Buccino said, adding that it’s unclear when the situation will be resolved.